
Class JlAlliL 



JDJSSCJUFTIOJSr OF 

KRIGHTHEJJ^fSTOIsTE,, 

and 
TFTK 3$I>JA_ CENT. C O^nSTTRYi ^ j y 

or 
Ihe^New Guide for Ladies and Gentlemen 
Vtsiiihj that J* lace gfJTealth and ^Amusement . 




Of purest Air and Healing* "Waves we tell , 
"Where -welcome jyTaidHygiaea lores to dwell. 

Sjrigmtmej^i-stojvs '.• 

JHrtted for F.G.TislLer. 
z8oo- 



BRIGHTON NEW GUIDE; 

OR, A 

DESCRIPTION 

OF 

BRIGHTHELMSTON, 

AND THE 

ADJACENT COUNTRY; 

WITH / 

An Account of the f.llozving Places: 



EAST BOURN, 
LEWES, 
NEWHAVEN, 
SHORE HAM, 
ROTTENDEAN, 



WORTHING, 

ARUNDEL, 

SEAFORD, 

STEYNING, 

PRESTON, 



Sfc. Xs. $c\ 



LONDON: 

Printed, for the Editor, 
By T. Burton, No. 31, Little Queen-Street; 

AND SOLD BY 

MR. DEBRET, PICCADILLY; MR. WRIGHT, PICCADILLY; 

MR. HOOKHAM, OLD BOND-STREET ; MR. CARPENTER, 

OLD BOND-STREET; AND F. G. FISHER, ON THE 

STEYNE, BRIGHTHELMSTON. 



1800, 






■541% 

"02 



TO 

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES 

THE 

PRINCE and PRINCESS of WALES, 
DUKE and DUCHESS of YORK, 

AND SUCH OF THE 

NOBILITY and GENTRY, 

AS FREQUENTLY VISIT 

BRIGHTHELMSTON, 

THE FOLLOWING PAGES 

ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY 

THEIR VERY OBEDIENT, 

AND EVER GRATEFUL HUMBLE SERVANT, 

The Editor. 



©ntetea at Stationer* ftalf. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



ilS the experience of many years 
has now confirmed the truth, that 
fea-bathing is the mod efFe£iual cure 
for chronic diforders, we cannot 
wonder that the fkuation, of which 
the following pages are defcriptive, 
ihould have of late years been fo 
much reforted to. The falubrity of 
the air, the excellent quality of the 
water, the pleafing, healthful, and 
convenient, fituation of the town, its 
moderate diftance from the metropo- 
lis, the unrivalled beauty of the ad- 
8 jacent 



VI ADVERTISEMENT. 



jacent country, and many other ad- 
vantages, both of nature and art, 
unite in giving Brighthelmfton a de- 
cided fuperiority over all other water- 
ing places. 



■Brighthelmfton, 
April 21, i2oOo 



PREFACE, 



PREFACE. 



A HE rapid increafe of buildings 
and improvements, which for feveral 
years paft have been made, and ftill 
are making in Brighthelmflon, ren- 
der a work of this kind particularly 
neceffary to be renewed almoft everv 
year: the Editor, therefore, flatters 
himfelf the prefent edition will be 
found acceptable to the nobility and 
gentry who may honour Bright- 
helmfton this feafon with their pre- 
fence ; as all recent improvements 
are particularly noticed, errors of 

former 



Vltt PREFACE. 



former editions corre&ed, and many 
ufeful pieces of information added, 
with refpett to roads, diflances of 
places, ftage-coaches, waggons, days 
and hours of poft, &c. &c. &c. fo as 
to render the prefent work a ufeful 
and, he hopes, agreeable companion 
to all whom health, pleafure, or buii- 
nefs, may attraft to Brighthelmfton, 
to enjoy pure air, rational amtife- 
jnent, and fea-bathing. 



A DESCRIF- 



A 

DESCRIPTION 

OK 

BRIGHTHELMSTON, ic. 



SITUATION- 

JDrighthelmston, the fubjecSt of the 
following pages, is fituated in 50° 55" N. 
latitude, and about 3 to the weftward of 
the meridian of London, at the diftance of 
54- miles, but if a ftraight line could be 
drawn, not more than 43. The town ftands 
on an eminence, which declines towards 
the fouth-eaft, in a regular and gradual 
fweep, to the Steyne, (a beautiful lawn, fo 
named,) from thence it again rifes with a 
gentle afcent to the eaftward, along the Cliff 
for a confiderable diftance; an amphitheatrical 
range of hills prote6l it from the boiflerous 
affiults of the north, and north-eafterly winds ; 
B ajid, 



U A DESCRIPTION OF 

and, on the weft, extenfive corn-fields gen- 
tly decline from the Downs towards the 
iea. 

SAME. 

The ohfcurity and perplexity in which 
the hiftory of SufTex has, for many years, 
been involved renders any certain informa- 
tion as to the true etymology of the name 
aimoft impoffible to be procured. The 
common, and indeed mofl probable, opinion 
is, that the town was called after a Saxon 
bifliop, of the name of Brighthelui, who, 
in the early ages of Chriftianity, fettled in 
the place. As we have many inftances of 
towns taking their names from the firft fee- 
lers of confequence in former times, we 
ihall not endeavour to make the credit on 
which this account is founded, as we know 
of none better to fubftitute in its room. 

Suffice it to fay, for many hundred 
vears that we have traced the hifiory of 
this town, it has ever retained the name of 

Bricrhr- 



BRXGHTHELMSTON, &fc. 3 

Briglithelmflon. Indeed, of late years, It has 
been fafhionable to abriviate it to Brighton, 
by which name it has received fuch de- 
cided marks of public approbation, as to 
render it now one of the moft defirable fum- 
mer and winter relidences in the kingdom. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Brighthelmfton formerly contained feven 
principal ftreets, exclufive of a num- 
ber of lanes, and was defended by ftrong 
fortifications. On the Beach, under the 
Cliff, the ruins of walls are ftill to be per- 
ceived, which are faid to have been built 
by Queen Elizabeth. The wall was 14 feet 
high, and extended 400 feet from the eaft to 
the weft gate. The eaft gate remained till 
within thefe forty years, and was taken 
down to afford room for conftru£ting a bat- 
tery. This battery was totally deftroyed by 
the fea, in November, 1786. 

Two others, however, have been fince 

ere&ed on fituations where they will not be fo 

B 2 liable 



4- A description o1r 

liable to receive damage from the fea ; one t& 
the eaft, and the other to the weft, of the town. 
On the eaftern battery are mounted five 24 
pounders, taken from the French, and ofi 
the weftern, eight pieces of the fame weight 
of metal ; behind the latter is a handfome 
houfe, built by government, for the ufe of 
the gunner, w r ith magazines, ftore-houfes, &c. 
Among the number of caftles, built by 
Henry VIII. for defending the fea-coaft, 
was one fituated at fome diftanee from the 
edge of the Cliff, and called the Block- 
houfe, the ruins of which were to be ken 
a few years ago: it was built A. D. 1539, 
but the continual attacks of the fea gradual- 
ly carried away the intermediate land, and 
at length the waters encroached to the very 
foundations, which they undermined ; in 
confequence whereof, the interior tower fell 
down, and the ruins were to be feen under 
the Cliff, in the year 1761. Since that 
time, what remained of the caftle has been 
removed, in order to afford a more conve- 
nient paflage for carriages. 

According 



-B RIGHT HE LMSTON* SCc. $ 

According to a tradition, which, notwith- 
ftanding its abfurdity, is flill extant, the 
Block-houfe is faid to have been conftruited 
in the centre of the town: the building 
was ereited for the defence of the coaft ; 
but, if fituated in the middle of the town, 
it could not poflibly anfwer that purpofe. 

It is related, that anciently there was a 
ftreet below the Cliff, which has been waihed 
away by the fea, and that the foundations, 
of the houles were to be difcerned beneath 
the water, &c. &c. Ruins may formerly 
have been feen under water, but, at prefent, 
there are no veftiges of buildings to r be dis- 
covered. 

In the year 1699, it is computed that 
130 tenements were deftroyed by the fea, 
and the damage was eftimated at 40,000/. 
To avoid a fimilar fate in future, a fund has 
been eftablilhed for repairing the groyns 
(which are a kind of fence to prevent the 
ravages of the water, and at the fame time 
to* collect and retain the gravel which the fea 
B 3 would 



6 A DESCRIPTION OF 

would other wife fweep along the coal!:,) 
and alfo for the lighting, paving, and cleanf- 
ing the ftreets, removing nuifances, and 
regulating the market. To accomplifh 
thefe purpofes, an aft of parliament was 
paired, in the year 1772, which impofed a 
tax of fix-pence upon every chaldron of 
coals brought into the town ; but this fum 
being found, infufficient, application has 
been made to parliament for a new bill, in 
which larger powers are to be granted to 
commiffioners, with additional duties, to 
enable them to carry the neceffary improve- 
ments into effe6b. 

Brighthelmflon confifts of one parifh 
only ; the living is a vicarage in the alter- 
nate gift of the bi(hop of Chichefter, and 
Henry Courthope Campion, Efq. of Danny, 
and has the redtory of Weft Bietchingtcn, 
(about two miles and a half north-weft of 
Brighthelmfton.) annexed to it ; the church 
at Weft Eletchingtoii Is in ruins. 

Brighthelmfton church fiands at a 
ft nail diftance north-:voft from the town; 

ant 1 , 



BRIGfcTHELMSTOtt, SfC, 7 

and, being on a rifing ground, is plainly 
difcernable at fea, and ferves as an excellent 
land-mark ; the height of the church-yard, 
above the level of the fea at low water, is 
150 feet. In the year 1777, eight fine 
toned mufxcal bells, the tenor, weighing 
fixteen hundred, pitched in F, and call: by 
Mr. Rudhall, cf Gloucefter, were hung in 
the belfry of the church. As the living is 
but fmall, the curate's fallary arifes chiefly 
from the fubfcriptions of the gentry reforting 
to the place. 

The town of Brighthelmfton is at prefent 
nearly of a quadrangular form ; the ftreets 
inrerfedr. each other at right angles ; and, as 
the Steyne was originally the boundary of 
the town, we (hall begin our account with 
tLofe ftreets, lanes, &c. which are to the 
weilward of that admired promenade, the 
Steyne, at Brighton : — Thefe are, North-, 
ftreet, Eaft-ftreet, Ship-ftreet, and Weft- 
ftreet; the fmaller ones are, Middle- ftreet, 
Little Eaft-ftreet, Black Lion-ftreet, Mar-r 
kct-fbeet, Nile-ftreet, Duke-ftreet, Ruf-. 
B 4 fell- 



8 A DESCRIPTION Of 

fell-ftreet, Little Ruffell-ftreet, New-ftreet, 
Queen-ftreet, King-ftreet, and Church-ftreet ; 
Boyce's Lane, Ship-ftreet-lane, Steyne-lane, 
Poole-lane, Golden Lion-lane, Mercer's 
Buildings, Warden's Buildings, Kent's Build- 
ings, Brighton-fquare, Caftle-fquare, Little 
Caftle-fquare. 

Eaft Cliff, Middle Cliff, Weft Cliff, 
Artillery-place, and Bellevue thefe five laft- 
mentioned are facing the fea, and com- 
mand moft extenfive and delightful prof-* 
pedis. 

The buildings, which form North-row 
and Weft-row, are pleafantly fituated, and 
amqngft them are feveral commodious lodg- 
ing-houfes. 

THE STEYNE. 

This beautiful lawf*, lb univerfally ad- 
mired, takes a ferpentine courfe, of many 
miles, amongft the hills. From whence it 
derives its name is uncertain ; feme think, 
from having joined the Roman way, called 

Steyne- 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, <Vc. ^ 

Steyne-ftreet, or Stayn-ftreet, running from 
Arundel, in Suffex, to Dorking, in Surry, 
paffing through Steyning, gave name to 
that Borough-town ; others fay, Steyne is 
a provincial word, common, in the eaftem 
part of the county, to denote a flat, or level, 
piece of ground. We cannot pretend to 
determine which interpretation is neareft the 
truth, but certain it is, this beautiful lawn 
is univerfally admired ; and the nobility and 
gentry, who, morning and evening, aflemble 
on this celebrated promenade, are not to be 
equalled, for numbers and refpe&ability, by 
any place in the kingdom ; while a fmall, 
but excellent, band perform favourite pieces 
of mufic, in a neat orcheftra. 

The names, by which the different rows 
of buildings are diftinguifhed, on this charm- 
ing fpot, are, Pavilion Parade, Blue and Buff, 
North Parade, South Parade, and South-row ; 
befides thefe, there are feveral elegant houfes, 
which fhall be particularly defcribed in the 
courfe of the following pages. It is needlefs 
to add, that, all the buildings on the Steyne. 

are 



10 A DESCRIPTION OF 

are univerfally admired for elegibility of 
iltuation. 

The flreets, which are to the eaftward 
of the Steyne, and now form a confiderable 
part of Brighton, have all been built within 
thefe few years ; they are, Steyne- ftreet, Man- 
chefter-ftreet, Charles-ftreet, Broad-ftreet, 
Margaret-ftreet, New Steyne-ftreet, George- 
ftreet, Princes-ftreet, Craven-buildings, Prof- 
pe£t-row, German-place. 

Marine Parade, New Steyne, Rock-build- 
ings, and Rock-Houfe ; thefe laft four front 
the fea, and, confequently, enjoy agree- 
able and extenfive profpedts. 

Moft of the houfes are built of flint-ftones, 
cemented with common mortar ; for the 
purpofe of building, fuch flints are collected, 
from the beach, as have had the*r afperities 
worn ojfF by the motion of the water ; but 
the forms of the ftones being irregular, and 
their fizes various, though they make a 
wall uncommonly ftrong, yet brick-work 
is obliged to be ufed, where the doors and 
window-frames are received, 

MARL- 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, &C. II 

MARLBOROUGH-HOUSE. 

At the north-weft corner of the Steync 
ftands a commodious manfion, belonging to 
his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, where, 
during the fummer months, his Grace and 
family relide. 

Adjoining to Marlborough-Houfe Hands 
the 

MARINE PAVILION, 

Built by his Royal Highnefs the Prince 
of* Wales, in the year 1787, this handfome 
and commodious ftru&ure, extends near 
160 feet in front towards the Steyne. It 
confifts of two wings, each of which con- 
tain two elegant rooms on the firft floor, 
with chambers, &c. fitted up in a truly fu- 
perb ftyle, Thefe wings are united with a 
circular building, having a beautiful dome 
riling above the reft of the edifice, and are 
continued backwards, towards the read, a 
confiderable diftance ; and, with the other 
buildings, fWm a fquare court. In thefe 
wings are a number of apartments for his 
Royal Highjpefs's fulte. In the court is a 

haiulfome 



12 A DESCRIPTION OF 

handfome dial, fupported by the figure of a 
Negro, which is much admired for its beauty 
and accuracy, as is the figure for its elegance 
and juftnefs of fculpture. 

On the Steyne, is another elegant manfion, 
built by the late Right Honourable W. G. 
Hamilton, Efq. then member of Parliament 
for Haflemere. This building confifts qf an 
elegant hall, in the centre, 20 feet by 18. 
On the right fide -of the hall is a fuperb 
dining-room, 34 feet by 20; on the left, a 
handfome drawing-room, 34 feet, 6 inches, 
by 24 feet 6 inches. 

The hall and dining-room are beautifully 
ftuccoed and painted. The drawing-room 
is hung with an exceeding elegant paper, 
and has a chimney-piece, on which is re- 
prefented a Venus drawn by Cupids, which 
is reckoned an excellent piece of ftatuary. 
The front is finifhed with Adams's artificial 
flone, and looks extemely handfome. The 
whole building is, indeed, juftly admired for 
its elegance of architecture as uniting fim- 
plicity with true grandeur. 

8 On' 



^ERIGHTHELMSTON, SCc 13 

On the weft fide of the Steyne, near the 
Marine Pavilion, is fituated the 

CASTLE-TAVERN, 

Kept by Mr. Tilt, who has confiderably 
enlarged the houfe, and rendered it, in every 
refpedt, perfectly commodious and elegant. — 
Exclufive of a large handfome Coffee- 
room, and a great number of other apart- 
ments for the tavern bufinefs, there is alfo 
a beautiful fuite of Affembly-rooms, built 
under the direction of Mr. Crunden, of 
Park-ftreet, London ; who, we may juftly 
fay, has united fimplicity with grandeur, and 
elegance with propriety. 

The Anti-room is a plain, handfomq, 
commodious, apartment, meafuring 30 
feet by 20, and has a communication with 
the Tea-room ; but it is feldom ufed, ex- 
cept when the company is too numerous 
to be accommodated in other apartments. 

Nothing of magnificence is attempted in 
the Tea-room ; but it is exceedingly neat : it 

alfo 



14 A DESCRIPTION OF 

alfo communicates with the Card-room, and 
its dimensions are 56 feet by 30. 

The Card- room forms a fpace of 40 feet 
by 25, and difplays great neatnefs and fim- 
plicity in the ftyle of the architecture. 

The plan cf the Ball-room forms a rect- 
angle of 80 feet by 40, with recefTes at each 
end and fide, 16 feet by 4, decorated with 
columns correfponding with the pilafters, 
which are continued round the room, di- 
viding the fides and ends into a variety of 
compartments, ornamented with paintings 
from the Admirander and the Vatican, re- 
prefenting part of the ftory of Cupid and 
Pfyche, and the Aldrobrandini marriage ; 
with Air-nymphs, and divers other figures, 
in the ancient grotefque ftyle. The ceiling, 
which is curved, forms an arch of one-fifth 
cf the height cf the room, which is 35 
feet, and it is finiihed plain, excepting that 
it has three compartments of fTucco orna- 
ments, from which the chandeliers depend* 
Over the entablature, at each end of the 

room, 



liRIGHTnBXMSTON, SCc. 15 

room, there is a large painting ; one is a 
reprefentation of Aurora, and the other is 
a figure of Nox. Thefe pieces are univss- 
fally allowed to be finely executed. 

During the Brighthelmfton feafon, a ball 
is held, every Monday, at Tilt's rooms; 
and the Card-aflemblies are on Wednefdays 
and Fridays. The other public rooms are 
kept by Mr. Hicks, of the 

OLD SHIP TAVERN, 

In Ship-flreet ; a very commodious houfe, 
in every refpect well calculated for the re- 
ception of company. 

Befides feveral other apartments on the 
ground-floor, there is a handfome Coffee- 
room, fronting the fea, with feveral elegant 
and commodious bed-rooms over it. 

On the firft llory is a capacious Dining- 
room, the wainfcot of which exhibits part 
of the ftory of Telemachus, painted on 
bronze, on a blue ground. 

On the fame floor is the Ball-room, which 
is large, and finifhed in a flyle of remark- 
able 



16 A DESCRIPTION OF 

able neatnefs and fimplicity. In this room 
there is an admirable portrait of the cele- 
brated Dr. Ruffel, whofe memory is juftly 
held in high veneration by the inhabitants of 
Brighthemfton, 

Mr. Hicks has lately made very consider- 
able additions to his houfe. Among other 
conveniences, is an elegant Card-room, 
xneafuring 50 feet by 30, and 25 in height. 
The ceiling is curved, and embellifhed 
-with a variety of curiouily-executed defigns. 
The fides are decorated with pannels, painted 
in the ancient grotefque ftyle. On the 
♦eaft is a circular recefs, fupported by two 
•columns. 

The Tea-room adjoins to the Card and 
Ball room ; it is a plain, handfome, com- 
modious, and well-finifliec, apartment. 

The Card-room was built by Mr. 
Golden, of Lamb's Conduit-ftreet, London, 
who, we may juftly fay, has difptayed a 
great fhare of knowledge and ingenuity. 
At Hicks's Rooms, the ball is on Thurf- 
vdays, and the card-aftembly on Tuefdays and 

Saturdays. 



BAIGHTHELMSTON, SCc. 17 

Saturdays. William Wade, Efq. is Mafter 
of the Ceremonies at both I\ooms. 
Among the other Inns and houfes of good; 
accomodation may be enumerated 

TPIE NEW SHIP, 

in Ship-ftreet, kept by Mr. Eaulcomb ; 

THE NEW INN, 

in North-ftreet, kept by Mr. Kenwood ; 
and 

THE WHITE HORSE, 

in Great Eaft-ftreet, kept by Mr. Allen. 

In North-ftreet, is built a circular range 
of neat commodious fhops, called Prince's 
Place, intended chiefly for the accomoda- 
tion of the London tradefmen, who come 
here with various kinds of wares for the 
feafon. At the upper end of the range is 
the entrance to the 

PROMENADE-GROVE, 

or Public Gardens, which are under the 
particular patronage of His Royal Higknefs 
the Prince of Wales. 

c Thefe 



IS A DESCRIPTION OF 

Thefe beautiful gardens being furroundccT 
with large overfpreading trees, compofed 
chiefly of elm, afford, in the hottefr day of 
fummer, a fhade moil luxuriantly refreshing. 
They are Supported by fubfcription, and are 
open every day. On every Wednefday 
morning, during the ieafon, is a public 
breakfait, when a band of mufic attend, and 
play, at proper intervals, ielecl pieces of 
mufic. The breakfafts, if the mornings are 
tolerably fine, have general! v to boaft of all 
the elegance and faihion of the place. Par- 
ties alfo at other times come here to break- 
fart, drink tea, take refrefh meats, (which. 
are provided in abundance,) read the papers, 
&c. &c. The vifitors to thefe charming 
gardens will not fail to notice the Saloon,, 
which is fitted up in a ftyle of neatnefs inex- 
preiiibly elegant. The orcheftra is an ccta- 
gan building adjoining ; the gardens are 
brilliantly illuminated on particular nights,, 
and fire-works difplayed of the firit. kind, at 
which times, the admifiion is half acrown ; the 
whole is conducted with great regularity, and 

thefe 



tTR T G H T fl ELMSTON, SCc* I 9 

thefe gardens promife to be one of the moil' 
fa fliionable places of amufement in Brighton. 

Very confiderable improvements have 
been made in Brighthelmfton within thefe 
few years, by the eredrion. of many perfectly 
elegant and convenient buildings ; the repa- 
ration of the old houfes, lighting, paving, 
and numbering the town, removing feveral 
n-urfances and obftiu6l!ons. 

About twelve years ago, at the corner of 
North-ftreet, a barn was taken down, for the 
purpofe of rendering the paffage more com- 
modious, and Mr. Hall, furgeon, has fince* 
built a handfome houfe there; and this • 
alteration has proved a great addition to the. 
beauty and convenience of the place. ■ 

There are at Brighthelmfton, three 

CIRCULATING LIBRARIES, 

Two on the Steyne, and one on the Marine 
Parade ; that on the eaft fide of the Steyne, 
oppofite the Caftle Tavern, is kept by Mr, 
Gregory; that on the Marine Parade, (lately 
eftablifhed) is kept by Meffrs. Donaldfon 
c 2 and 



20 A DESCRIPTION QI 

and Wilkes ; that on the fouthern extremity 
of the Steyne, which is likewife the 

POST-OFFICE, 

Is kept by Fred. Geo. Fisher, pub- 
lisher of this pamphlet, who humbly hopes, 
by affiduity and attention^ to merit a con- 
tinuance of that fliare of public favour 
hitherto received by his predeceffor, Mr. 
Crawford, 

To an already valuable and extenfive 
collection of books, will be added all 
works of real merit, as foon as they ap- 
pear, and have received the approbation of, 
the public. The daily, morning, and even- 
ing, papers, are regularly taken in, for the 
ufe of the fubferibers. The Library com- 
mands agreeable views of the Steyne, Downs, 
Cliff, &c. &c. is well Sheltered from the fun, 
and fitted up in a neat commodious manner. 
The proprietor, therefore, refpectfully aflures 
thofe ladies and gentlemen, who may ho- 
nour him with their patronage, that every 
effort will be ufed to render it an apreeabb 
lounge, during the feaibn, 

BANKS. 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, SCc. 21 

BANKS. 

There are at Brighthelmfton, two Banks, 
for the accommodation of the noblity, gen- 
try, and public in general. 

THE OLD BANK, 

Cinder the firm of Shergold, Michell, Rice, 
Rice, and Mills, is fituated in North-Greet, 
No, 103. Their notes are payable in Lon- 
don, at Meflrs. Newnham, Everett, Drum- 
mond, and Co. Manlion-houfe^flreet. 

THE NEW BANK, 

Under the firm of Wigney, Rickman and Co. 
is fituated No. 2, Steyne-lane; their notes 
are payable in London, at Meflrs. Mafter- 
man, Peters, Walker, and Mildred, White- 
Hart-Court, Gracechurch-flreet. 

The hours of tranfadting bufmefs at both 
banks are, from ten in the morning till five 
in the evening, every day, Sundays ex- 
cepted. 

o S Near 



A DESCRIPTION CF 

Near to the Stevne are fituated the 

j 

HOT AND COLD BATHS, 

Built after a plan of Mr. Golden, architect; 
the firft ftone whereof was laid in the year 
1759. On one fide of aipacious vefHbrde, 
are fix cold baths; pon the other fide, are hot, 
baths, fweating-baths, and fhowering -baths,; 
the baths areiupplied from the. lea, by means 
of an engine. 

Dr. Awfitef, in a pamphlet, called 

Thoughts on 'Bfighthehnfton, published 

in 1768, fays, " The utility of theie baths 

41 is obvious: they may be ufed either 

" for hot or cold bathing. There are ibme 

" individuals to whom cold bathing would 

" be ferviceable, could they be able to bear 

*' the fatigue of being dipt in the lea, and 

f! (what is more material) to be expofed to 

" the cold air. If the weather happens to 

61 be ftormy, and the fea fo rough, as not to 

Ai admit of bathing in it, recourfe may be 

" had to the baths: by this means bathing 

<; would become more univerfal, be unat- 

*? tended with terror, and no cure protracted, 

" Moreover 



•fclUGKTHE'LMST'O'N, &C. 23 

"Moreover, invalids would have the ad- 
" vantage of this bathing remedy all the year 
" round; whereas, on account of the vari- 
" ablenefs of our climate, it is denied theni 
" at prefent, except in the furnmer months, 
" and then only in calm weather." 

Mr. Smith, of Artillery-place, has, at 
much trouble and expence, found out a 
method of curing the gout, by means of an 
air-pump, from whence many perfons of rank 
and coniequence have received great benefit. 

METHOD OF BATHING. 

It may not be improper here to introduce 
a fliort account of the manner of bathing in 
the lea at Brighthelmiion. By means of a 
Hook-ladder the bather aicends the machine, 
which is formed of wood, and raifed on 
high wheels ; they are drawn to a proper dis- 
tance from the fhore, and then plunge into 
the fea, the guides attending: on each fide to 
affiit them in recovering the machine ; which 
being accomplimed, they are drawn back to 
fhore. The guides are ftrong, active, and 
c -4 careful ; 



24 A DESCRIPTION OF 

careful; and, in every refpedt, adapted to 
their employment. 

There are bathing-machines at the eail 
and weft parts of the town, and the bathing 
is confidered particularly good at Brighton. 

But little encouragement was given to 
theatrical exhibitions, at Brighthelmfton, till 
within thefe few years; no other temple 
w r as dedicated to Thalia and Melpomene 
than a barn, or iome fuch fimilar building. 

But as Brighton increafed in population 
. ccnfecjuenc.e, a theatre was deemed ne- 
cefiary; and about twenty- fix years ago, 
Mr. Samuel Payne built a tolerable hand- 
fame one, in North-ftreet ; which was like- 
*wife found too fmall (eight years fince) to 
thold the company; accordingly a 

NEW THEATRE 

Was built in Duke-ftreet, by the late Mr. 
Fox, who, regardlefs of trouble or expence, 
provided a variety of fcenes, dreffes,and other 
decorations, equally to be admired for ele- 
gance and propriety, ..being, perhaps, inferior 

only 



"BRIGHTHEL"MSTON, 8fC, 25 

only to thofe of the London theatres. The 
fcenes were painted by Mr. Carver, of 
Covent-Garden theatre, and they do honour 
to the abilities of that ingenious artifL The 
Playhoufe -opens about the beginning of 
July, and clofes about the end of October, 
which is the principal part of the Bright- 
.helmfton feafon. The days of performance 
are, Tuefdays, Wednefdays, Fridays, and 
Saturdays ; and if the abilities of the aftors 
are not fufficiently powerful to excite the en- 
thufiafm of applaufe, they are not fo con- 
temptible as to create difguft. Candour 
muft acknowledge, that the theatrical bufi- 
nefs at Brighthclmfton is conducted with 
great regularity, and that if perfection is not 
reached, mediocrity is furpafTed. 

Literature is not neglected in. this town: 
there are two 

ACADEMIES, 

Which have been long eftablifhed ; that i a 
Weft-ftreet, of which Mr. Brooke is proprie- 
tor, where young gentlemen are boarded and 

educated 



26 A DESCSirilON F 

educated both in ClalTics, according to the 
Eton plan, and alio the Sciences, after the 
moft approved methods; and that in North- 
ftreet, kept by Mr, Paine, principally to qua- 
lify youth for bufmefs. Both thefe femi- 
naries are conducted with the greateft pro- 
priety, and reflect much credit on the fe- 
vera! niaflers employed in them. 
Id ere are alfo four 

BOARDING-SCHOOLS, 

For the inftraSion of young ladies in the 
various branches of ufeful and polite litera- 
ture and accomplishments ; thefirft, in Ger- 
man-Place, kept by Mifs Wayte, and Mifs 
Harben ; the fecond, in Great Eaft-ftreet, 
kept by Mrs. Pullen ; the third, in Weit- 
ftreet, kept by Mifs Rickwood; and the 
fourth, in the fame ftreet, kept by Mrs. 
Townley and Mrs. Adean. 

It gives us great pleafure to inform our 
readers, that the ladies, by whom thefe dif- 
ferent fchools are conducted, are extremely 
vivell qualified for the fituations they are in, 

and 



B R i G H THE L MSTON. 81 C . 27 

rand are defer ving of every fuccefs. The 
health, morals, and improvement of the 
•young ladies committed to their care, we 
believe to be molt confcientioufly attended 
to. 

Amongft the improvements deferring par- 
ticular notice, is the 

CHAPEL ROYAL, 

Situated in Prince's Place, North-ftreet, built 
within thefe few years, to afford accom- 
modation to the nobility, gentry, and fuch 
other of the principal inhabitants, as, from 
the rapid increafe of population, and con- 
fequent complaints of want of room in the t 
church, could not get pews. 

It is built from a plan of Mr. Saunders, 
architect, of Golden-fquare, will conve- 
niently hold a thoufand perfons, and is cer- 
tainly one of the neateft buildings of the 
kind in England. 

We fmcerely hope it will anfwer the ex- 
pectations of the proprietors, in as much, as 

it 



2S A DESCRIPTION OF 

it does credit to the abilities of its ingenius 
architect. 

The other places of public worfhip are, a 

QUAKERS MEETING-HOUSE, 

PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE, 

METHODIST MEETING-HOUSE, 

ANABAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE, 

AND A 

JEWS SYNAGOGUE ; 

All built in a plain neat ftyle, and vary- 
ing in fize, according to the numbers of 
their different congregations. 

About twenty-fix years ago, a neat and 
convenient 

MARKET-PLACE 

was built; it is open every day (Sunday ex- 
cepted), and is very well fupplied with but- 
cher's meat, vegetables, and fruit of the 
beft kinds : but the principal market-days 
are Tuefdays, Thurfdays, and Saturdays. 

On 



BRI<GHT-HELMSTON, &C. 29' 

On the Beach is likewife a market for 
rifli ; and it is fcarcely neceflary to obferve, 
no place in the kingdom can boaft of having 
a more abundant fupply of this article, in 
greater variety, or in higher perfection. 

From the want of an harbour for fliip- 
ping, there is no commerce carried on at 
Brighthelmfton. To the company referring, 
thither in the feafon, and the 

FISHERY, 

The inhabitants principally depend for a; 
livelihood. The fiming-boats belonging to 
this place are eftimated at an hundred ; and 
the average complement to each is three 
perfons ; therefore, this fi flier y mufr, of 
courfe, prove an excellent nurfery for fea- 
men. 

The Mackarel-fifliery continues during 
the months of May, June, and July. To- 
wards evening, the. Mackarel-boats fail, and 
return the next day with what they have 
caught. At the ufual time of the boats com- 
ing 



50 A DESCRIPTION o? 

ing in, the dealers are affembled on the. 
Beach, in order to purchafe the hlh. for the 
London-market. Notwithstanding the Mac- 
karel are in general monopolized for the. 
fupply of the metropolis, the fineft of thofe 
frill are frequently retailed, at Brighthelm- 
fton, at very low rates. The red Mullet is 
caught, in tolerable plenty, in the month of 
May; and, in July, Lobfters and Prawns are' 
taken in great abundance. Various other 
kinds of fiih are alfo caught, as, Dorees, 
Turbots, Soals, &c. by means of trawl-nets ; 
Hooks are made ufe of, in September and 
October, to take Whiting. The fiiherv for 
Herring commences in the month of Octo- 
ber. The boats employed in this fifhery 
venture out to fea in the moft boifterous 
weather, even when deftruction feems to 
await thofe veflels, which, on account of 
their bulk and ftru&ure, are better adapted 
to refift the force of the contending elements. 
Great quantities are fent frefh for the fup- 
ply of the London-markets, and the reft are 
cured for exportation. 

Bright- 



B R I GHTKELMSTGN, $Tc. 3 1 1 

Bngiithcmfton is the neareft fiihing-coaft 
to London • and, on account of this ad- 
vantage,' the people, employed in the fUhery, 
receive great encouragement from thofe 
whofe bufmefs it is to provide ftfli for the 
markets of the metropolis. 

Water is procured, at Brighthelmfton,- 
from wells of ' confiderable depth, and being 
filtered through chalk, of which thefe parts 
are one immenfe rock, it is of courfe per- 
fectly cleared of every fpecies of foulnefs. 
The following phenomenon is obfervable in 
feveral of the wells of this town ; at the 
time of high water they are empty, and at 
low water they are fuiL 

elmore's stables. 

Elmore's new Stables, in Church-ftreet, 
are certainly the firft of the kind, in point 
of magnitude and convenience, in the 
county; they are built after the London 
fafhion, with long projecting roof, fo that 
the horfes may be drefi and exercifed under 

cover^ 



32 A DESCRIPTION* OF 

cover, whenever the weather renders it ne~~ 
eeffary. 

In the yard is a Blackfmith's fhop, forge, 
&c. large coach-houfes, and granaries, com- 
plete the whole ; and nothing have we feen 
at other places of public refort that can bear 
a comparison with this truly commodious, 
neat, and extenfive, range of buildings. 

At a little diftance, on the Lewes-road, 
is the Prince of Wales's 

CRICKETING-GROUND ; 

It is railed round, and, during the Summer 
months, ufed by his Royal Highneis, and 
friends, for the manly amufement of cricket* 

HISTORICAL EVENT. 

After the battle of Worcefter, King Charles 
II. fled for refuge to Brighthelmfton, and 
arrived at the George-Inn, in Weft-ftreet, 
on the 14th of October, 1651. The hcufe 
(which has now the fign of King Charles's 
head) was kept by a man, named Smith, who 
3 had 



B RIG H T HE L MSTON, &C. S3 

had lived about the court. He recognized 
the perfon of his Royal gueft ; but had too 
much loyalty to betray him. The following 
morning, his Majefty embarked in a fmall 
veflel, commanded by Nicholas Tatterfall, 
and, the next day, landed at Fecamp, near 
Havre-de-grace, Soon after the reflora- 
tion, the captain brought his veflel into the 
river Thames, and moored her oppofite 
Whitehall, in commemoration of the So- 
vereign's providential e'fcape. An annuity 
of 100/. was granted to Captain Tatterfall, 
and his heirs for ever, as a reward for his. 
fteady loyalty ; but, by foroe means, this 
annuity has been discontinued a number of 
years. 

The remains of Captain Tatterfall lie 
interred near the chancel-door, in the 
church-yard, at Brighthelmfton, and over 
the grave is a black marble, on which is 
the following infeription : 

« P. M. S." 

11 Captain Nicholas Tatterfall, through 

M whefe prudence, valour, and loyalty, 

a « Charles 



54 A DESCRIPTION OF 

" Charles II. King of England, after he had 
" efcaped the fword of his mercilefs rebels, 
S and his forces received a fatal overthrow 
" at Worchefter, September the 3d, 1651, 
" was faithfully preferved, and conveyed to 
" France, departed this life the 26th- of July, 
" 1674. 

M Within this marble monument doth lie 
" Approved faith, honour, and loyalty; 
(( In this cold clay he has now ta'en up his flation $ 
'" Who once preferved the church, the crown, and 

" nation; 
*' When Charles the Great was nothing but a breath-, 
*< This valiant foul flept 'tween him and Death: 
xe Ufurperi* threats, nor tyrant rebels' frown, 
'" t'ould not affright his duty to the crown; 
* c Which glorious act of his, for church and flate, 
e< Three princes, in one day, did gratolate— 
" <e Pro fe fling all to him in debt to be, 
(t As all the world are to his memory. 

" Since earth could not reward the worth him 
" given, 
(e He now receives it from the Kingof Heaven. 
* c In the fame cheft one jewel more you have, 
<( The partner of his virtues, bed, and grave.'" 

There 



BRIGHTHELMSTOK, S(C. 5*5' 

There is no part in the kingdom where 
the air is more falubruous than at Bright- 
helmfton. This is owing, in a confider- 
able degree, to its being powerfully im- 
pregnated with the fea vapour ; and it 
poffeffes the virtue of affording great re- 
lief to perfons afflidled with confump- 
tive and afthmatic diforders. It is. con- 
sidered as an extraordinary cafe, when .4 
native of (or aconftant refident in) thefe parts 
is troubled with a cough, or any complaint 
of the lungs ; and, indeed, the climate here 
is of fo happy a temperature, that phyficians 
iiniverfally concur in recommending this 
fituation, as fuperior to any other in the king- 
dom, for the recovery and prefervation of 
health. The adjacent hills defend the town 
from the rude northern winds of winter; 
and the intenfe heat of fummer is agreeably 
moderated by a continual refrefhing breeze 
from the fea. 

Brighthelmfton is greatly indebted for its 

prefent celebrity to the recommendation of 

D 2 the 



36 A DESCRIPTION DF 

the late admired Dr. Ruffel ; and this gen- 
tleman's judgement has been confirmed by ! 
the concurring teftimony of the moil cele- 
brated phyficians that England has pro- 
duced. 

ADJACENTS. 

About half a mile to the weftward of the 
church, rifes a fpring of 

CHALYBEATE-WATER, 

which, having been lately much frequented, 
renders it neceffary to particularize it. — 
Dr. Relham, having a considerable time 
fince analyzed it, fpeaks of it thus : 

" This water is moft abundantly flocked 
" with a white earth,' impregnated with a 
" fpirit of fea-falt. 

" When tailed it is fofr, not unpleafantly 
" martial, and temperate in point of heat. 
" It has the imell always perceptible in feru- 



*' ginous waters. 



The 



BRtGHf HELMSTON, STC. 3? 

* The water, ftripped of its heavy ochre, 
** frill retains what is called a ferruginous 
" tafte, and mews, by every experiment, 
" that it is impregnated with a martial 
" earth. 

" Calcined and tried with the load ftone, 
" the refiduum difcovered no marks of con-- 
" tained iron. 

" It appears manifeftly, that this water 
" contains a large portion of air, part of 
** which is incoercible. It neither ferments 
" with acids nor alkali. 

" The peliucidity of this water is pre- 
" ferved, improved, and recovered, if loft, 
ct by a fmall addition of any mineral acid; 
" but deftroyed, if an alkali, either fixed or 
K volatile, be added to it: from thence it 
" may be inferred, that acids are more con- 
" genial to this water than alkali. 

" As foon as the water begins to warm, 

" an immenfe quantity of air-globules fepa- 

" rate, and efcaping to the furface, the 

4i water becomes turbid, with fmall particles 

I> 3 " cf 



3S A DESCRIPTION OF 

" of ochre floating through the mafs, which 
u increafe in bulk, as the water grows 
" warmer. 

" From experiment, it is evident the quan- 
" tity of foiid matter, really exifting in a pint 
" of this water, is at leaft equal to 20 
" grains. 

M CONTENTS. 

" Ochre, white earth, martial earth, {pi- 
u rit of fea-falt, airy, impregnated with a. 
" ftyptic matter. 

• " The advantages which appear to arife 
V from the ufe of this water, drank in a pro- 
" per quantity, are an increafe of appetite 
f ana fpirits ; and in habits of a lax and en- 
*f feebled nature, an additional power of ex- 
Q ercifing without laffitude." 

Thus far Dr. Relham. From fubfe- 
quent experiments made by Dr. rlenderfon, 
k appears that there have been feme errors in 
Dr.. Relham's analysis ; particularly as to 
the folid matter contained in the water, ana 
die exiflcnce cf iron in the calcined re- 

fiduum, 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, SCc. 3$ 

liduum. The fubftance of a few of Dr. 
Henderfon's experiments as following: — 

" This water, when firft taken i}p from 
" the fpring in a glafs, greatly refembles, in 
" appearance, a folution of emetic tartar, in 
" common water. The tafte is not unplea- 
" fant, fomething like that upon a knife, 
" after it has been cutting lemons. It does 
" not feem to contain the fmalleft portion of 
" fulphur ; it neither changes vegetable 
" blues red, nor does it effervefce with alka- 
" line falts, calcareous earths, magnefia, of 
M foffil alkali; neither does it change vegetable 
" blues green, nor does it effervefce with 
" acids ; yet it curdles foap, and renders a 
" folution of it, in vinous fpirits, milkv. 

" It feems to contain a confiderable por- 
" tion of calcareous earth, mixed with the 
" vitriolic acid, in the form of felenites, and 
" alfo a confiderable portion of iron, as will 
" appear from the following experiment. 

" Sixty-four ounces of this water, by 

" meafure, was evaporated to drvnefs ; there 

D 4 " WS.S 



4Q A DESCRIPTION OF 

" was a refiduum of a brownifh fubftance full 
M of faline fpiculae, weighing eight grains,. 
" four -grains of which, with an equal quan- 
" tity of charcoal, was made intoapafle with 
<4 oil, and calcined. Upon trying the cal- 
<; cined matter with the magnet, two pieces, 
4i nearly in a metallic form, adhered to the 
** magnet, and when put upon paper, at 
w the diftance of half an inch, moved in 
" every direction that the magnet was moved 
" in. Thefe two pieces weigh one -eighth 
44 of a grain. 

44 The grofs refiduum neither effervefces 
<4 with alkali nor afcids,. and is difficultly 
44 foluble in. water. 

44 This water becomes inftanfcly tranfpa- 
44 rent like diftilled water, on the addition of 
44 any of the mineral acids, efpecialiy the 
44 vitriolic. 

44 A fclution of galls in common water, 
44 z&ded to an equal portion of this water,, 
44 becomes black, like ink, in a very few 
** minutes. 

"- This 



BR2GHTHELMST0N, Sfc. 41 

vt This water has been found ferviceable 
" in feveral cafes of general debility, 
* 4 crapulas, indigeftion, atonja of the fto- 
M mach, fluor albus ; and in all thofe dif- 
" eafes, where chalybeate and tonic reme- 
" dies are required ; it promifes, under due 
** regulation, to be ufeful." 

For the more immediate ufe of fubfcn- 
hers, the late proprietor of this chalybeate, 
Thomas Scutt, Efq. deceafed, eredted over 
the fpring a fmall neat building, where at- 
tendance is conftantly given during the fea- 
fon. To the northward of the building, he,. 
with great difficulty, reared plantations, 
which are now fufficiently grown, to afford 
a friendly and agreeable fhade. 

The falutiferous effects of this water, as 
being the primary, are certainly the moft 
material fubjedts of recommendation. Al- 
moft every individual, for whom it has been 
prefcribed, have happily experienced that it 
anfwers every wifh both of phyfician and pa- 
tient. 

RIDES,. 



42- A DESCiUPTlON OF 



RIDES. 



About a mile and a half from the town, 
on the north-eaft, lies the 

RACE-GROUND. 

The races are generally at the latter end of 
the month of July, and are well reforted to 
by the nobility and gentry of Suffex, and the 
neighbouring counties. There are always 
three fifties, exclufive of feveral fweepftakes, 
matches, &c. and the fport is moftly very 
good. There is a handforne and conveni- 
ent ftand, capable of containing a great 
number of fpe£tators, built upon the courfe, 
by a fubfcription of the inhabitants of 
Brighthelmfton. 

The height of the ftand at the race- 
ground is 384 feet above the level of the fea, 
at low water ; the profpeS exteniiye and de- 
lightful. The Ifle of Wight, which is 
plainly difcernible, and many other beauti- 
ful cbje£ts, add greatly to the pleafure of the 

races. 



B R IT7HTH EL MSTON, dftii 43 

races, which are equal to any in the king- 
dom. 

A little diftance from the race-ground is a 
place called Whitehawke-hill ; on the fum- 
mit of which has lately been built a 

SIGNAL HOUSE, 

One of feveral others erected this war, on 
the fouthern coaft, to convey intelligence 
from Dover to Portfmouth, Plymouth, &c... 
This hill was formerly a Roman ftation. 
The eaft and weft fides have declivities of 
confiderable depth : the ground towards the 
fea falls in a gradual defcent, and the place 
could not be afiailed with any profpecl: of 
fuccefs, except on the north fide, it being 
in no other part accelfible ; and even here 
the paffage, though level, is very narrow. 
On the fummit of Whitehawke-hill, there 
are ramparts of a. circular form; and here is 
an ample reward for the toil of climbing the 
hill. On the eaft and weft there is a noble 
profpecl: of the fea ; and on the fide which 
defcends toward . the fea, entrenchments 
1 appear 



44> A DESCRIPTION OF 

appear to have been raifed, which have 
extended to the very bafe of the hill. 

About two miles north of the town lies 
Hellingbury-hill, which the country people 
denominate Hollingbury-Caftle, and which 
is erroneously rtOted as a caftle in feveral 
maps. Here are evident marks of an en- 
campment : its figure ft ill remains complete, 
being a very extenfive circle, containing a 
number of tumuli, or fmall eminences ; one 
of which has been opened to a considerable 
depth. 

Tradition fays, that an inhabitant of Bright-- 
helmfton, having dreamt that he mould find 
a veffel containing a quantity of treafure, 
dug this hill to a great depth; but at 
length, defpairing of fuccefs, declined his 
fearch, after having juftly rendered himfelf 
an object of public ridicule, 

THE DEVIL'S DYKE, 

Was formerly a Roman encampment, it lies 

about fix miles north-weft of the town. 

This place received the name of the 

Devil's Dyke, from a hollow of great 

depth* 



BRIGKTHELMSTON, dfc, 45 

depth, by which it is feparated from the 
adjacent hill. 

This eminence is greatly admired, and 
much reforted to, on account of the delightful 
profpe& it affords ; here the fcene changes 
at a fmgle ftep, from rude • and extenfive 
heaths, to a beautifully inclofe^ and finely 
cultivated country, en one fide, and on the 
other, an uninterrupted view of the fea, for 
many leagues. Some years fince, an urn, 
containing a great number of filv er coins, of 
the latter Roman emperors, was dug up in 
this neighbourhood. 

At the mouth of the river Adur, about 
four miles to the weftward of Brighthelm- 
ftcn, is that ancient port, called Portus 
AdumU where the Roman explorators held 
their ftation at the period when our feas 
were infefted with Saxons. In this neigh- 
bourhood, there ftill remain a few houfes, 
formerly a part of the village called Port- 
SUule, fignifying the way to the port. 

From Brighthelmfton to Lewes, over the 
the Downs, is a rnoft delightful ride: the 

diftance 



4(5 A' DESCRIPTION or 

diftance eight miles, on a fine carpet ground, 
the traveller commands a mod charming 
knd-profpe£r., and an extenfive view of the 
fea. 

The foil of the Downs is of a chalky na- 
ture, hut exceedingly prolific. It is fup- 
pofed that there is no fpot in the univerfe 
which produces finer mutton than that fed 
on thefe Downs. The exquifite flavour of 
the meat is owing to the lands being entirely 
free from marfh or fvvamp, the falubrity of 
the air, the fine quality of the grafs, and the 
abundance of aromatic herbs with which it 
is intermingled. 

Great number of Wheat-ears, which are 
Jby many called EngliJIi Ortolans, are caught 
on the South Downs. This fmall, but deli- 
cately-flavoured bird is the Beccajica, of 
Italy. It is conjectured that they dire£t 
their flight northward, in confequence of a! 
deficiency of infe£t.-food in their native 
climate. 

The feafcn for Wheat ears .is autumn, 
when the heat of the weather will not "per* 

mit 



BRIGHTHELMSTOtf, SCc. 47 

init their being killed and fent to London. 
Some few, however, are conveyed thither 
alive, and are fold at high prices. Thefe 
birds are found in feveral parts of this coun- 
try ; but, probably from a want of proper 
food, they are not remarkably pleafmg to 
the palate, while thofe taken in the neigh- 
bourhood of Brighthelmfton have the full 
perfection of that delicate flavour for which 
the Italian Beccafica is fo highly celebrated. 
About three miles and a half from Bright- 
helmfton, on the Lewes turnpike-road, is 

STANMER ; 

A beautiful feat of Lord Pelham's, fur- 
rounded with a fine park. Half a mile far- 
ther is a village called Falmer, which is re- 
markable for the ruins of a monaftery. 
The remains of this building are converted 
into a farm-houfe, which joins the church. 
The road through Falmer is delightfully 
pleafant, and may be paused in the worft fea- 

fori 



4$ A DESCRIPTION OF 

fen with little inconvenience, being fheltered 
on each fide by the adjacent hills. 

Near two miles, on the left-hand fide of the 
road from Brighton, ftand the new-ere£ted 

BARRACKS, 

Built, this war, for the reception of horfe 
and foot. It is a large regular building, ex- 
tending fome confiderable diftance along the 
road, and allowed by judges to be a very 
complete ftrucliure for the intended purpofe. 
About a mile before you enter Lewes 
ftands another Barrack, but not built on fo 
large or firm a plan as that near Brighton ; 
the former being a brick and ftone edifice, 
the latter only w r ood-frame, covered with 
boards. 

LEWES. 

Lewes is a large and populous town, Stu- 
nted eight miles from Brighton, and about 
fifty from the metropolis. We are inclined 
to think that it derives its name from the 

8 word 



word Lew/a ; which, in the Saxon tongue, 
fingifies paftures. It is recorded that Athel- 
ftan eftablifhed two mint-houfes at Lewes, 
and that the town had one hundred and 
twenty-feven burgefles in the reign of Ed- 
ward the Confefior. 

Lewes is built on the borders of the South 
Down-;, upon a rifmg ground, within fix 
or (even miles Oi the fea, on the banks of 
the river Oufe, which is navigable for barges* 
&c, to a considerable diftance above the 
town : it fends two members to parliament. 
: prefent representatives are, Thomas 
Kemp, Efq. and John Creflett Pelham, Efq- 
The election was eftablifhed, May 8, 1735, 
to be in the inhabitants, being: houfeholders, 
paying fcot and lot- Number about 400. 
It is faid, formerly, to have been a large 
walled town, and to have confifted of twelve 
parifhes ; but fix only remain at prefent. 
Thefe are St. Peter, and St. Mary Weftout, 
certified by the name of St. Anne, St. Mi- 
chael in Foro, St. John fub Caftro, All- 
Saints, St. John the Baptift, Southover, and 
r St 



5X>. A . D K S C R J P T I<0 N r f 

St. Thomas in the Cliffe, a peculiar belong- 
ing to the Archbifhpp of Canterbury. The 
church of St. .Thomas in the Cliffe is greatly 
admired for the elegant fimplicity of its 
architecture. In the middle of the altar are 
two pillars, between which the Ten Ccm~ 
mandments are written, and on the outiule 
m are two pilafters ; thcie arc all oi the. Doric 
order, ornamented with carved and giltarchi- ■ 
trave, cornice, and frieze : on the north fide, 
bftween the pillar and pilafter, is the Lord's 
Prayer ; and the Creed appears between the 
pillar and pilafter on the oppofite. fide. 

Notwdthftanding the advantage of a na- 
vigable river, manufacturers receive but little 
encourgement at Lewes : yet the inhabi- 
tants .in general are wealthy : and it miift 
be* obfervevl, that the women are beautiful, 
even to a proverb. From the Caftle, the re- 
mains of which ftand on an -elevated fpot, 
there is a profpeel, that, perhaps, cannot be 
furpaffed in any part of k , the kingdom. To 
the weft, there is a view 6f the fea, to the 
full extent of thirty, miles ; and -to. the eaft> 

the. 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, 8Cc. 51 

the eye direfts itfelf over a beatifully-diver- 
filled country, and is gratified with a view 
of Banftead Downs, in Surry, which ter- 
minate the proipe<St, at the difiance of forty 
miles. 

Under the Saxon government, the Caftle 
01 l^ewes was in a flourishing condition, 
and it gave the title of Earl to the perfon 
then in poiTeffion of it. Tiie priory founded 
here, in the year 1 178, in the ancient church 
of St. Pancras, by William de Warren and 
his wife, the Lady Gundreda, was the firfl 
houfe eftablifhed in England of the Cluniac 
order. 

The Earl of' Warren and his lady fet out 
on a pilgrimage to Rome, and having vilited 
feveral religious houfes in France, they came 
, into Burgundy, -and were there informed, 
that, by pinniing their journey, they would 
fubjedt themfelves to great danger,- as a war 
then prevailed between the Pope and the 
Emperor ; in confqquence thereof, they di- 
rected their courfe towards the monaftery 
of Cluni, greatly famed for the fandlity, 
E 2 bene- 



52 A DESCRIPTION OF 

benevolence, and humanity, of its monks,,- 
The friendly, humane, and honourable, re- 
ception which they experienced, infpired 
them with a high eireem for the whole 
order; and as the Earl and Countefs had 
previoufly determined, on their return to 
England, to build and endow a religious 
home, with lands and cattle of fufficient 
value to maintain twelve monks, they ac- 
c ordingly granted land to the order of Cluni, 
and gave them the church of St. Pancras, 
under Lewes-Caftle, which the Earl rebuilt 
with ftone, being at firft only a wooden 
itruflure, and confirmed, by ftronger grants, 
under royal confirmation, the gifts they had 
already bellowed on the priory of St. Pan- 
cras. 

The sera of the monairery confifled of 
39 acres, 2 roods, 1 1 perches ; and it was 
environed by four walls, the fides of which 
correfponded nearly with the four cardinal 
points of the compafs. The walls on the 
weft, north, and eaft, are in tolerable pre- 
servation ; but they plainly appear to have 

been 



KRIGHTHELMSTON, <$fc. 531 

been repaired in many places. There ap- 
pears only about one-half of the fouth wall, 
and this is evidently of modern ftru&ure ; 
though, in many places, the vefliges of the 
old wall are traced, and they are eafily dif- 
tinguiihed by their being covered with turf. 

It is beyond difpute, that this monaftery 
was a building of lingular magnificence ; 
but fo great have been the ravages of time, 
that none of the carved work, and indeed 
fcarcely a ftcne, on which the fquares are 
preferred, can be difcovered by the moft 
induftrious of thofe who are curious in mat- 
ters of antiquity. 

Lewes is famous for a bloody battle, 
fought between King Henry III. and the 
Barons, headed by Simon Mountford, Earl 
of Leicefter, in which the King was intirely 
defeated. 

At Lewes there have been, for many 
years, Boarding-Schools, where young gen- 
tlemen are inftructed in the feveral branches,^ 
of the polite and ufeful arts 3 particularly 
the Mathematics. 

E 3 A bank 



S4< A DESCRIPTION OF 

A Bank has alfo, for fome time pad, been 
eftabli/hed there under the firm of J ill iff eld 
Comber, Molineux, and King. Their drafts 
and notes are payable, in London, at Sir 
James Ejdaile's and Co. It is called the 
New Bank, to diftinguiili it from one 
which has for forne time been difcontinued. 



PRESTON. 

Near Brighthelmfton, at the diftance of a 
mile, upon the road which leads towards 
London, through Cuckfield, &c. is the de- 
lightful village of Prefton. It commands 
many finely-variegated and extenfive prof- 
pefts ; and this truly rural fpot receives 'a 
considerable addition from a great number 
of ftately elms, which afford a pleafing 
retreat from the heat of fummer, and a 
convenient fhelter for travellers in the win- 
ter feafon. Here is a large building called 
Prefton-houfe, with extenfive and well- 
planned gardens, late the property of Charles 
Callis Weftern, Efq. of River-hall, in Effex, 

but 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, Si'C. 55 

but now of Mr. Stanford. In Prefton-houfe 
is a fine portrait of Anne of Cleves,. con- 
fort to Henry VIII. who, it is recorded, re- 
iided in this houfe, but afterwards retired to 
a convent, at Falnier, which is about three 
miles difkmt, where me. died : and was in- 
terred. At Prefton there is a houfe for 
the reception of company ; and, in the gar- 
dens, a very handfome tea-room has been 
lately eredted. The great neatnefs in which 
the houfe and gardens are kept, the excel- 
lence of the accommodations-, the delightful 
iltuation of the place, and the obliging 1 diipo'- 
fition of the proprietor, enfure him frequent 
viiits from Brighthelmfton r and the places . 
adjacent. 

ROTTINGDEAN. ■ 

Oil the road to Newhaven, at the diftance ' 
of near four miles from Br-ighthelmfton^ 
lies the pleafant and delightful village of 
Rottingdean. This place is remarkable for 
its wells, which are nearly empty athigb. 
E 4. water.,, 



56 A DESCRIPTION OF 

water, but which rife as the tide declines 
It has of late been the refort of a coniider- 
able number of genteel company ; for which 
bathing-machines, and every accommodation . 
have been provided. Here are a variety of 
well fitted-up lodging -Ironies, a good inn % 
with convenient {tabling, coach-houfes, Sec. 
It is moftly frequented by fuch families as 
prefer a little - retirement to the buftle and-, 
gaiety of Brighthelmflon, and who occasion- 
ally may wiili to mix with the company 
there, for which its fltuation renders it, at 
any time, perfectly convenient. 

NEWHAVEN. 

At the distance of nine miles from Bright-. 
helmfton, along the Sea-coaft to the eaft, is 
the port of NewLaven. It lies upon the 
mouth of the river Oufe, and is chiefly in- 
habited by maritime people. The harbour 
of Newhaven formerly afforded a remark- 
ably fafe fhelter for {hips of confiderable 
burden,, but the neceffary repairs being neg- 
lected? 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, &€• 57 

lected, for a long feries of years, the har- 
bour was choaked up. However, an aft 
was paCTed, in the year 1731, for repairing 
the piers, and keeping the harbour in good 
condition ; fince which the trade has con- 
fiderably increafed. There are feveral Ship- 
builders at Newhaven, and veffels large 
enough for Weft-India .men have been built 
there. Many neat houfes are in the town, 
and one good inn, where poft-chaife and able 
horfes may be procured, for thofe travelling 
ooaftways to Eaft Bourn, Haftings, &c. 

Here is alfo a -handfome draw-bridge, built 
over the river Oufe, which renders travelling 
much pleafanter than as formerly over a 
dangerous ferry. 

This place is much celebrated for brewing 
fine ale, which is drank and admired for. 
many miles round. 

SEAFORD. 

Twelve miles eaft of Brighthelmfton 
Hands the borough of Seaford. It is a 

branch, 



58 A DESCRIPTION OJF 

branch or member of the Cinque Ports'; 
has fome neat lodging-houfes, . and a few 
bathing-machines ; is vifited in the fummer 
by thofe families who prefer retirement lo 
the buftle of more fafhionable watering 
places : it fends two members to parliament^ 
and has had more contefted elections, with- 
in thefe twenty years, than any place in the 
county. 

The prefent reprefentatives are, Charles 
Role Ellis, Efq . - and George Ellis, Efq. 

From Seaford, the cliffs gradually rife till 
we reach Beachy-Iiead, eighteen miles eaft 
of Brighthelnifton; Thofe called the Three 
Charles's are about 560 feet high, by much 
the higheft on the Suffix coaft; To thefe 
cliffs great numbers of birds, of divers 
fpecies, refort to breed ; and, at theTatter 
part of the feafon, they pafs to "warmer 
climates. There are two apartments, cut in 
the chalk-rock, under the cliff, which bear 
the name of " Par/on Darby's Hole" It 
is afferted, that Darby formed thefe caves, 
intending them as his conftant refideriee*; 

but 



ffRIGHTHELMSTON, &'C. 59 

but that he had enjoyed his retirement only a 
ihort time, when he fell a facrifice to the 
dampnefs of his fituation. 

EAST BOURN, 

Twenty-two miles eaft from Brighthclm- 
fton, and nxty-four from London, ft and s the ; 
fafhionable village of Eaft Bourn. 

Nature has certainly been lavifh of her: 
gifts to this delightful fpot; the fertility of 
the foil exceeds any thing, we have witnefTed 
on this coaft, — the trees are lofty, and grow 
almoft to the water's edge; the profpefts are 
varied and beautiful ; the rides and walks un- 
commonly fine ; and the bathing remarkably 
good; yet, with all thefe advantages, the in- 
habitants (from, .what caufe.we know not) 
have made the feweft advances towards im- 
proving the place of any town within, our 
knowledge. We would advife the proprie- 
tors of lands there to remove the cottages 
and ftables from amongfl their bell houfes, 
atfea fide, and fouth, pave their flreets, and 

mend 



60 A DESCRIPTION OF 

mend their roads: with attention to thefe 
hints, Eaft Bourn would, in a few years, be 
fecond only to Brighton, in point of eligi- 
bility of Htuation. 

Lord G. H. Cavendiih. has a feat here, 
called Compton-place. There are two very 
good inns, where great attention is paid to 
the accommodation of their guefts, Circu- 
lating Libraries, Theatre, Stage-coaches,. 
Bathing-machines, &c. &c. are already efta- 
bliihed in very good ftyle ; and families of 
the firft diftin£r.ion have made this their firm- 
mer retreat for many years paft. 

A pack of excellent hounds are kept in 
the town, and the Downs are uncommonly 
fine for hunting on. 

At a place called Wilmington, between. 
Lewes and Eaft Bourn, and about eighteen 
miles from Brightheimfton, is a hill, on the 
fide of which the figure of a man appears, 
by a very remarkable difference in the colour 
of the grafs. The length of this figure is 80 
yards, and each hand feems to grafp a ftaff, in 
a parallel direction with the body. The 
3 fpot 



B R I C II T II ELMSTON, SfC. 61 

fpot is faid to have been formerly paved with 
bricks, whence the difference of the verdure 
is fuppofed to have arifen. 

In the pariih of Arlington, adjoining Wil- 
mington, there is a fand-pit, where, at about 
fix feet beneath the furface, petrified wood is 
found in a variety of forts. 

NIW SHOREHAM. 

New Shoreham is fituated about fix miles 
weft of Brighthelmflon. It fends two mem- 
bers to parliament. The prefent represen- 
tatives are, the Right Hon. Charles William 
Wyndham, and Sir Cecil Bifhopp, Bart. 
Excluiive of the houfeholders, the freeholders 
of the Rape of Bramber, in which it is 
fituated, have a right to vote, as fettled by a6t 
of parliament, 1771. The number of voters 
are about 750. New Shoreham is princi- 
pally inhabited by people depending on the 
building and fitting up of fliips, in which 
-they are confidered to be proficients. Ship- 
building is carried on with great advantage at 

this 



$2 A DESCRIPTION OF 

this place, on account of the plenty and 
cheapnefs. of the timber, which is brought 
down the river Adur at a trifling expenoe. 

A new bridge over the river Adur, which 
renders the road to Arundel, Chichefter, &c. 
£?.fe.aj>d commodious (there being before but 
a dangerous ferry), was, built a few years 
ago. For the accompliihm ent of this, the 
fum of five thoufand t pounds was raifed by 
way of tontine. 

HOVE 

"Is a fmall village, on the banks of the fea,> 
-with a few lodging-houfes, and one or two 
bathing-machines, a very good puhlic-houfe, 
fitted up in a neat commodious manner, and 
where parties of pleafure from Brighton, 
Shoreham, Sec. are fure to meet with good, 
accommodation. 

About a mile north- weft of .Hove is the 
pariih of Aldrington, in which there is not a 
fmgle dwelling. The church is in ruins, 
and the living, being a rectory, is conse- 
quently 



BRIGHTHEI/MSTCVN, 8fc. '63 

-. quently a imecure of upwards of fixty 
pounds a year. In this pariih was fituated 
the Porius Adarni,. according to the opinion 
of many learned antiquaries . 

WORTHING. 

Fourteen miles weft of ' Brighthelmilon 
ftands the pleafant village of Worthing, of 
late years much frequented as a watering- 
place ; there are feveral good lodging-houfes, 
and two inns ; the inns are oppoiite to each 
other, and what is rather remarkable, the 
fxroprietor's name of one. is Hogsflefb, and 
jf the other, Bacon.. 

•BRAMBER. 

The borough of Bramber lies on the 
banks of the Adur, about four miles from 
New Shoreham. At this place are to be 
feen the ruins of a caftle, built in the reign 
of : William the Conqueror, by one of the fa- 
mily of the Breofes. ' It confifts of about 

fixteen 



6,4 A DESCRIPTION OS 

fixteen houfes, and fends two members to 
parliament. The prefent members are, Sir 
Charles William Roufe Boughton, Bart* 
and James Adams, Efq. The election was 
agreed to be in the perfons inhabiting ancient 
houfes, or in houfes built on ancient founda- 
tion?, paying icot and ]ot, lft June, 1715, 
iattixhejthe number was twenty. 

STEYNING. 

About a mile from Bramber, to the 
wefi, lies the borough of Steyning. This 
town contains little worthy the obfervation 
of the curious. It fends two burgefies to 
parliament. The prefent are, John Henni- 
ker Major, Efq. and James Martin Lloyd, 
Efq. The ele£rion was eftablimed, 17 th of 
February, 1710, to be in the conftables and 
houfeholders not receiving alms, but paying 
fcot and lot. The number about eighty. 
"JThis town takes its name from the Roman 
way having paiTsd through it, as before re- 
naaxked in the account of- the Steyne. 

There 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, SCc. 65 

There is a delightful road from Steyning 
to Brighthelmfton, commanding, on the left, 
a view of the lower country, bounded by a 
fweep of green hills, of furprifmg height, pro- 
jecting and retiring with a noble irregularity. 
The wild, or more properly weald, leems to 
be in another region ; and on the flat is feen a 
mod extenfive circuit of fine inclofures, 
richly covered with wood and verdure ; fifty 
miles from London. 

ARUNDEL. 

From New Shoreham the fea-coaft leads 
to Arundel, which is a borough-town, fifty- 
five miles from London. The prefent repre- 
sentatives for Arundel are, James Greene, Efq. 
and Nefoit Belfour, Efq. The election is in 
the inhabitants of the borough, paying foot 
and lot. The number about 200. The 
town is built upon the banks of the river 
Arun, from which it derives its name. The 
mullet, which is caught in great plenty in 
the Arun, is efieemed to be fuperior to what 
F is 



66 A DESCRIPTION OF 

is taken in any other part of the kingdom, 
A collegiate church was founded here by 
Richard, Earl of Arundel ; and here was 
like wife a priory of Benedidline Monks. At 
Arundel are the remains of the once famous 
caftle, given by William the Firft, to Roger 
de Montgomery, by whom it was repaired. 
The caftle now belongs to the family of the 
Howards ; and is again undergoing a com- 
plete repair, by direction of his Grace of 
Norfolk, who makes it his principle refi- 
dence. It gives its poiTefTor the title of Earl, 
and Peer of the realm, without creation. 
In the church are four ancient monuments 
of the Earls of Arundel. By means of the 
river Arun, immenfe quantities of fine tim- 
ber are conveyed and /hipped for Woolwich, 
Peptford, Chatham, Newcaftle, and other 
Ciip-building towns to the north and eaft; 
and weflward, to Portfmouth and Plymouth. 
In the year 1733, an act paffed for erecting 
peers in,. and repairing and keeping in repair, 
the harbour of Arundel. 

10 On 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, Sfc. 67 

On the road to Arundel there is an eleva- 
ted fpot, called Highdown-hill, which is 
plainly feen from Brighthelmfton, and ferves 
as a landmark to navigators. From this 
hill is a delightful prefpeft, both by land and 
fea. 

On one fide of this hill is a tomb, fur- 
rounded with rails, and has a yew tree at 
each corner. An inscription expreffes, that 
in the year. 1766, this tomb was ere£ted by 
John Oliver, miller, for the reception of his 
body, after his deceafe. On the top appears 
the following Scripture Sentences : 

For as in Adam all die, even fo in Christ (hall all be 
made alive. 2 Cor. xv. 22. 

For the law was given by Mofes, but grace and truth 
came by Jz s a s Christ. St. 'John i. 1 7. 

That whofoever believeth in him mould not perim, but 
have eternal life. St. John i\\. 15. 

Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than 
that a man mould rejoice in his own works 5 for that is 
his portion ; for who mall bring him to fee what mall be 
after him ? Ecclef. iii 22. 

Knowing that (hortly I muft put off this tabernacle, 
even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath (hewed me. 
2 Pet. i. 24. 

f2 The 



6$ A' DESCRIPTION OF 

The following lines are engraven at the 
eaft end : 

Why mould my fancy any one offend, 
Whofe good or ill on it does not depend 5 
*Tis at my o//n expence except the land 
(A gen'rous grant) on which my tomb doth ftand : 
This is the only fpot that I have chofe, 
Wherein to take my lafting, long repofe. 
■ Here, in the duii, my body lieth down ; 
You'll fay it is not confecrated ground: 
I grant the fame 5 but where fhali we e'er find 
The fpot that e'er can purify the mind 5 
Kor to the body any luftre give; 
This more depends on what a life we live, 
When the trumpet mall begin to found, 
'Twill not avail 'em where the body's found. 

A MORAL. 
BlefTed are they, and only they, 

Who in the Lord their Saviour die, 
Their bodies wait red mption's day, 

And fkep in peace where e'er they lie. 

And the weft ?nd exhibits an hieroglyphic 
of Time contending with Death, between 
the firft and fecond of the following 
ftanzas : 



Death ! why fo faff ? pray fiop your hand, 
And let my glafs run out its fand : 



As 



BRIGHTHELMSTCN, ■%€. €9> 

As neither Death nor Time will ftay, 
Let us improve the prefent day. 

Why ftart you at that (keleton ! 

'Tis your own pidlure which you fhun : 

Alive it did refemble thee ; 

And thou, when dead, like that mall be. 

But tho' Death muft have his will, 

Yet old Time prolongs the date, 
'Till the meafure we mall fill, 

That's allotted us by fate. 
When that's done, then Time and Death- 
Both agree to take our breath. 

The Scripture fentences were fele<5ted by 
Mr. Oliver, and the verfes are the produc- 
tion of his mufe. About ten yards from the 
tomb, a variety of flowering fhrubs are 
planted, and an alcove is here formed, 
which is painted with Death's heads. In 
this retreat the miller, during his life, fpent 
moft of his leifure hours. We fhall mention 
another circumftance expreflive of the whim- 
fical difpofition of this extraordinary cha- 
racter : he had, fome years previous to his 
death, prepared a coffin, on which were in- 
f 3 fcribed 



70 A DESCRIPTION OF 

fcribed the words, memento mori; it run 
upon caftors, and was every night wheeled 
under the bed of its intended pofieffor. Mr. 
Oliver's refidence was about a quarter of a 
mile from the tomb, on the declivity of the 
hill. Near the miller's houfe, in a tree, is 
fixed a curious piece of machinery (the pro- 
duction of his own hand) reprefenting an 
old woman and her dog, endeavouring to 
refcue a fmuggler from a cuftom-houfe 
officer The figures were formerly all put 
in motion by four fweeps, like thofe of a 
mill, being turned by the wind ; but it is 
now fo much out of repair, that only one 
figure has any motion, and Mr. Oliver 
being dead, it will probably never be re- 
paired. 

Mr. Oliver's remains were committed to- 
this tomb, May 1, 1793, in the prefence of 
about 3000 fpe&ators. The body was borne, 
by eight men drefled in white, from his houfe 
to the place of interment ; and the funeral 
iervice, according to the church of England, 
and alio a Termori, adapted to the occafion, 

were 



BRTGHTHELMSTON, SCc. 71 

were read by a girl about twelve years of 
age. Mr, Oliver died in his 84th year. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

To enumerate all the advantages Bright- 
helmfton enjoys, over other places of genteel 
refort, would extend the limits of this publi- 
cation, beyond the intention of the editor^ 
and perhaps trefipafs too much on the time 
and patience of the reader ; he will, there- 
fore, briefly ftate a few, and leave the re- 
mainder to a difcerning public. 

The diftance from London is by many 
miles fhorter than any other fea-bathing 
place in the kingdom, the roads, winter and 
fummer, are kept in the beft poflible ftate of 
repair, and reflet much credit on the dif- 
ferent commiffioners. 

Provifions of every kind are in great 

plenty, daily in the market; and, when 

weather permits, fifh in abundance, va- 

F 4 riety 



72 A DESCRIPTION OF 

riety, and high perfection, may be had on 
reasonable terms. 

The ftreets, from the foil being chalk and 
gravel, dry tip in a few minutes after the fe- 
vereft rains ; which renders walking, at all 
times, particularly pleafant; a thing not 
very common in country towns. 

The poft-hours are fo well regulated, that 
if any bufmefs of confequcnce demands at- 
tendance in town, a perfon may be in Lon- 
don by 2 o'clock on the fame day with eafe. 

The morning daily papers are regularly 
received at the libraries every evening, by 
the coaches ; by which means, all news of 
importance is known at Brighton on the fame 
day as In London ; an advantage that no 
other watering place in the kingdom enjoys. 

The great number of houfes, lately built, 
affords better accommodation for large or 
fmall families than are to be found at any 
other watering-place. 

The inns and boarding-houfes are kept in a 
fuperior ft vie to moil town-, and from the 

encou- 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, 8Cc 73 

encouragement they have experienced of 
late years, no doubt but they will exert 
every endeavour to retain the kind patronage 
of the public. 

The ftage-coaches and waggons are con- 
duced by proprietors of great refpeftability, 
and no place has neater coaches, better 
horfes, or more attentive drivers, than are to 
be found on the Brighton-road. 

As thefe and many other advantages are 
enjoyed all the year at Brighthelmfton, it is 
not to be wondered at, that a number of fa- 
milies of the firft refpeftability have of late 
years made it a place of winter residence, as 
well as fummer refort; for thefe eight or ten. 
winters paft the numbers have rapidly in- 
creafed, and in a few years Brighthelmfton 
bids fair to become a fecond Bath, and have 
two feafons in the year. A circumflance of 
considerable confequence is the reduction 
which takes place in the price of lodgings, 
during the winter months ; in moft cafes 
two-thirds, and fometimes more ; this, with 
the fall of provisions, ufual about Chrift- 

mas, 



74< A DESCRIPTION OF 

mas, renders a winter's refidence at Brighton 
very defirable, particularly as people of the 
firft rank are fure to be met with At the 
libraries/ on the Steyne, &c. &x, and as a 
proof that the climate of Brighton is 
warmer than the more interior parts of the 
ifland in winter, fnow feldom or ever re- 
mains on the ground 'beyond a few days, 
owing to the mildnefs of the air from the fea, 
which diflblves it much fooner than in more 
inland fituations. 

We fhall here conclude our account of 
Brighthelrnfton and its adjacencies ; obferv- 
ing that whether health or pieafure are the 
objects ftrught, no part of the kingdom can 
pofiibly be vifited with a more favourable 
profpecl of fuccefs, than the delightful fpot 
of which thefe pages have been feebly 
defcriptive. 



APPENDIX. 



BRTGHTHELMSTON, 8Cc. 



15 



APPENDIX. 






JL HE Editor prefumes that the following 
account of Roads, Stage-Coaches, Wag- 
gons, Pacquets, Pofts, &c. will not be un- 
acceptable to the vifitors of Brighthelmfton* 



ROADS. 

From Brighihelmfton to London, 

Lewes. 



ly 



Falmer . . . * 
Lewes .... 
Uckfield . . . 
Maresfield . . 
Nutley .... 
Witch Crofs . 
Foreft-Row . 
Eaft-Grinftead 
Fell-Bridge 
New Chapel . 
Godfton . . . 
Croydon . . . 
Streatham . , 
London . . . 





H 


H 


8 


si 


iei 


2 


m 


n 


22 • 


3 


25 


2§ 


27 f 


ok 

^2 


30 


2 


32 


2 


34 


6 


40 


H 


49| 


H 


54 


5 


59 



By 



76 



A DESCRIPTION OF 



By Cuckfield, 

Prefton 

Patcham . . * 

Clavtcn 

Cuckfield 

Hand Crofs 

Crawley . . 

Horley 

Ryegate 

Sutton 

Mitcbam 

Lower Tooting 

UDper Tooting 

Ballam L . , . . 

London 



If 
n 

7 


7 
14 


4 J. 


18* 

23 


4 


27 


6 


33 


10 


43 


3 


46 


2 


48 - 


i 

2, 

1 


4Sf 
49| 



54 



-FVc?m Brighihelmjlon to London, by 
Horffiam. 



HenfieM . . . 
Cowfold . . . 
Horfham . . . 
Capel .... 
Dorking . . . 
Mickleham . . 
Leatherhead . 
Aftited .... 
Epfom .... 
ill .... 
left . . . 
Merton Abbey 
London . . . 



5 
6 

7 
6 

2 ! 
2 



n 

"4 



10 
15 
21 
23 
34 
36| 
38| 
40 
421 
44 
47i 
50 
57 
From 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, Sfc. 



77 



From Brighton to Tunbridge-Wells> by 
Lewes. 



Falmer 

Lewes 

Uckfield 

Growbo rough Beacon 
Tunbridge-WelJs . . 



3 


5 

8 


6 


16 


7 


23 


7 


30 



OR, 



Lewes 

Mare sii eld . . . , 
Groombridge . , 
Tunbridge-Wells 



104 

13 

2 



18* 

31| 

33| 



From Brighthelmjion to Margate, along 
the Coajl of Kent and SuJ/'ex. 



Rottingdean 
Newhaven . 
Bifhopftone 
Bietchington 
Seaford . . 
Eaftdean . . 
Eaft Bourn . 
Pevenfey . . 
Bexhill . . . 
Hailings . . 
Geftling . . 
Winchelfea 
Rye . . . . 





4 


5 


9 


2 


11 


3 

4 


"i 


i 

A- 


12i 


H 


18 


3 


21 


5 


26 


8 


,34 


6 


40 


4 


44 


4 


48 


3 


51 




Lydd 



78 



A DESCRIPTION OF 



Lydd ...... 

Romney . . . . 
Hythe . . . . . 

Sandgate-Caflle 
Folkltone' . . . 
Dover ...... 

Ringlwold . . . 

Walme 

Deal ...... 

Sandwich . * . 
Ebb's Fleet . . 
Cliff's End . . 
St. Lawrence . 
JRamfgate . . . 
St. Peter's . . . 
Margate .... 



From Brighthelm/lon to Margate, inland. 



Falmer 

Afhcomb ...... 

Lewes 

Ringmer 

Short Gate . . . . . 

Black Boy 

Crofs in Hand . . ■ 
Heathfield-Park . . 
Milkhurft-Toll . . . 

Burwafh 

Etchingham . . . , 
Hurft-Green . . . . 
Cuper's Corner . . 
Hawkhurft, (Kent) 



12 


1 63 


3 


66 


9 


15 


2 


77 


2f 


79f 


H 


88 


6 


94 


If 


95\ 


H 


97 


5 


102 


2 


104 


H 


1051 


H 


106| 


3 
4 


107^ 


3 


110± 


3 


II3f 


inland. 




4f 


n 


&f 


H 


8* 


3 


II* 


3 


H| 


3 


Wi 


3| 


20£ 


H 


22£ 


2* 


24£ 


H 


28£ 


2 


30£ 


2 


S2i 


1 


331 


2 


35£ 


Hig 


igate 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, SfC. 



Tlighgate . . . 
Tubs Lake . . . 
Hartley .... 
C ran brook . . . 
Milkhoufe-Street 
Bidenden . . . 
Smarden .... 
Pluckley .... 
Little Chart . . 
Charing .... 
Pearsfield-Green 
.Rumfonlees 
Sheldwick . . . 
Boughton-Street 
Boughton-Hiil . 
Harbledown . . 
Canterbury . . . 

Sturry 

Upfireet .... 

Sarr 

Monkton .... 
Acol 



Margate 



1 


36$ 


2 


38± 


1 


m 


2 


4]| 


H 


42{- 


4 


46| 




50$ 


H 


5^4 


J 2 


" 4- 

55 


2 


57 


4| 


61* 


1 
2 


61! 


2 A 

Z 4- 


64 


4* 

H z 


68f 


1 


69A 


Z 8 


72£ 


9& 

^8 


74| 


Z 8 


"| 


J 8 


81 


^8 


83-| 


n 


86 


'* 


87| 



9I± 



ifyom Brightkelmfton to Port/mouth and 
Southampton, continued to Bath and 
Briftol. 

Hove 2 

New Shoreham 4 6 

Lancing Pad 1 7 

Arundel , 14 21 

Chichefter 10 31 

Portfmouth 



80 



A DESCRIPTION OF 



Portfmouth . 
Southwick . 
Wickham . . 
Southampton 
Rumfey . . 
Salisbury • , 
Deptford-Inn 
Warminfter 
Bath .... 
Briftol . . . 



18 


49 


8 


57 


4 


61 


14 


75 


7 


82 


15 


97 


11 


108 


11 


119 


18 


137 


12 


149 



N. B. Thofe who wifh to avoid Portf- 
mouth may turn off at Southwick, which 
will fave eight miles in the diftance to 
Southampton. 



POSTS. 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, &"c. 81 

POSTS. 

HP 
JL HE London Mail is difpatched from 

Brighthelmfron every evening (Sunday ex- 
cepted), at feven o'clock, from Fifher's 
Library, on the Steyne ; and returns every 
morning (except Monday), between the 
hours of kven and eight in the morningv 

Bye-letters, by the London Mail, 
every day (except as above), to and from 
L^ckfield, Eaft-Grinftead, Godftone, Croy- 
don, and places adjacent. 

Cross-post to and from Shoreham and 
Steyning, every day ; and to Arundel, Pet- 
worth, Midhurft, Chichefter, &c. on Tuef- 
day, Thurfday, and Sunday mornings, at 
fix o'clock; and returns on Wednefdays, 
Fridays, and Sunday, afternoons. 

N. B. Letters to and from Lewes every 
day; and three times a- week, during the 
winter, and fix times during the fummer, 
to and from Eaft Bourn, Newhaven, and 
Seaford. 

g COACHES. 



$# A DESCRIPTION OF \ 

COACHES. 

LONDON POST COACHES, 

by Meffrs. Henwood, Croffweller, Pockney^ 
Cuddington, and Harding, fet out every 
morning in the furnmer, at feven, eighty 
and nine,, o'clock, from the Coach-office*, 
No. 44, in Eaft-ftreet, to the BlolToms Inn,. 
Lawrence -lane, Cheapfide ; and Hatchett's v 
White Horfe-cellar, Piccadilly, through. 
Cuckfield, Ryegate, &c. &c. and reach Lon~. 
don, between five and fix. o'clock in the 
evening. 

LONDON POST COACHES, 

by Meffrs. Boulton, Tilt, Hicks, Baulcomb,. 
$nd Co. to the Golden-crofs, Charing-crofs, 
Old White Horfe-celiar, Gloucefter Coffee- 
houfe, Piccadilly, and Swan w r ith two Necks, 
Lad-lane, every morning, at feven, eight,, 
and nine, o'clock, during the furnmer, from 
the General Coach-office, corner of North-. 

ftreet, 



BRIGHTHELMSTON,; &fc, 82 

fireet, paffing through Cuckfield, Ryegate, 
&c. &c. reach London about the fame hours 
in the evening, as the other coaches. 

LONDON POST COACHES, 

by Meffrs. Boulton, Tilt, Hicks, Baulcomb, 
and Co. from the General Coach-office, corner 
of North-ftreet, for the fame inns in London, 
by way of Lewes, Uekfield, Eaft-Grinftead, 
Croydon, &c. every morning at feven 
o'clock, and reach Town between five and 
fix in the evening. 

LONDON POST NIGHT COACH, 

alternately from, the Office in Eaft-ilreet, 
and corner of North-ftreet, every night in- 
the fummer feafon-, at ten o'clock, and get 
to London about feven in the morning. 

LONDON COACH,; 

from the Gun-Inn, on the Eaft Cliff, every 
Monday, Wednefday, and Friday, mornings,, 
at feven o'clock, during the fummer feafon, 
to the Spread Eagle, Gracechurch-ftreet, 
G 2 thought 



84 A DESCRIFTI0N OF 

through Henfield, Horfham, Dorking, 
Leatherhead, Epfom, &c. and returns from 
thence every Tuefday, Thtirfday, and Satur- 
day, evenings, at feven o'clock. 

CHICHESTER, PORTSMOUTH, BATH AND 
BRISTOL POST COACH, 

from the Old Ship, in Ship-ftreet, every 
Tuefday, Thurfday,. and Saturday mornings, 
through Shoreham, Arundel, Chichefler,, 
Portfmouth, Southampton, Salisbury, &c. 
&c. and returns on Mondays, Wedncfdays, 
and Fridays. 

WAGGONS. 

LONDON STAGE-WAGGON, 

from the Waggon-office, No. 17, Eaft- 
ftreet, by William Bradford ; fets off every 
Monday evening for London, through Cuck- 
field, Ryegate, &c* to the Nag's Head-Lnn, 
Borough ; return^ from thence Wednefday 
noon, and arrives at Brighton Friday eve- 
ning. 

LONDON. 



SRIGHTHSLM3TCN, S, r C. 85 

LONDON STAGE-WAGGON, 

by Meffrs. Law and Croflweller, from the 
General Waggon-office, No. 22, Little Eaft- 
ftreet, to Hatchett's, New White Horfe- 
cellar, Piccadilly ; Swan-Inn, I lolborn^ 
bridge ; and George-Inn, Borough; Monday 
and Thurfday evenings : and returns from 
the White Horie-cellar, Piccadilly, and 
Swan-Inn, Holborn-bridge, every Wed- 
nesday, and from the George-Inn, Borough, 
every Saturday evening. 

LONDON STAGE-WAGGON, 

by John Davis, through Cuckfield, Ryegate, 
&c. &cc. every Tuefday and Saturday evening, 
from the General Waggon-office, No. 53, 
Middle-ftreet, to the Talbot-Inn, Borough, 
and Harrifon's Old White Horfe-cellar, Pic- 
cadilly ; where they arrive every Monday 
and Wednesday noon, return from Harris 
fon's every Monday and Wednefday noon, 
and from the Talbot-Inn every Tuefday and 
Thurfday morning, and reach Brighton 
every Wednefday and Friday evening. 

LEWES 



hG A DESCRIPTION OF 

LEWES WAGGON, 

by Meffrs. Nicholas and John Elphick, fete 
out from No. 3, Nile-flreet, every Tuefday, 
Thurfday, and Saturday, morning, at feven 
o'clock, and returns the fame evenings. 

STAGE-CARTS. 

LEWES CART, 

by Edwards, fets out at three o'clock every 
day, from the Grey Hound, in Eaft-ftreet, 
-and returns from Lewes, the next morning., 
about twelve. 

EAST BOURN CART, 

by Erridge, every Tuefday morning, about 
eight o'clock, from the Gun-Inn, on the 
Eaft Cliff, through Rottendean, Newhavea, 
Seaford, &c. &c. and returns every Mon- 
day evening about feven. 

SHQREHAM 



mm* ght H.E1M s rant* <&v. 87 

SHOREHAM CART, 

t>y Moorey, fets out every day, about three 
o'clock, from the King's Head, in Weft- 
ftreet, and returns from Shoreham, about 
twelve the next morning. 

P ACQUETS. 

In Times of Peace the following P acquets 
are coii/iantly employed between Bright- 
hem/ion and Dieppe. 

The Prince of Wales (a Schooner), 
•Captain Burton, fails from Brighthelmfton, 
(wind and weather permitting), every Sa*- 
■turday evening, and returns from Dieppe 
every Tuefday. 

The Princefs Royal (a Schooner), Capt. 
Chapman, fails from Brighthelmfton for 
Dieppe (wind and weather permitting), every 
Tuefday evening, and returns from Dieppe 
every Saturday. 

The 



ti A DESCRIPTION OF 

The Speedwell (a Cutter), Captain Lind, 
fails from Brighthelmfton for Dieppe, every 
Thurfday evening, and returns from Dieppe 
to brighthelmfton every Monday. 

N. B. From London to Paris, by way of 
Brigthelmfton and Dieppe, is ninety miles 
nearer than by way of Dover and Calais. 
The Pacquets always fail from Brighthelm- 
fton, in the evening, about two or three hours 
after the coaches arrive from London. 



TIDE* 
ILofC. 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, &'C. 



89 



TIDE-TABLE 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, 



Moon's Age. 


K 


gh-Water. 


Low- Water. 




Mil 


. 


H. 


Mia 




H. 


New Moon o 







II M 







5 E 


I 


51 


paft 


II M 


l 5x 


paft 


5 E 


a 


4* 


- 


12 D 


142 


- 


6 E 


3 


33 


- 


I ES 


33 


- 


7 E 


4 


*4 


- 


2 D 


24 


- 


8 N 


5 


15 


- 


3 D 


Us 


- 


9 N 


6 


6 


- 


4 D 


! 6 


- 


IO N 




57 


- 


4 D 


57 


- 


10 N 




43 


- 


5 J5 


48 


- 


II N 




39 


- 


6 E 


39 


- 


12 N 




30 


- 


7 E 


30 


- 


I M 




21 


- 


8 N 


2£ 


- 


2 M 




12 


- 


9N 


12 


- 


3 M 




9 


- 


10 N 


9 


- 


4M 


Full Moon 


o 




II n| 


O 




5 iw 




43 


- 


ii N 


48 


- 


5 M 




36 


- 


12 N ! 


36 


- 


6M 




*4 


- 


I M 


24. 


- 


7M 




12 


- 


2M 


12 


• 


8M 




O 




3 M 







9 M 




4S 


- 


3 M 


43 


- 


9 M 




36 


- 


4M 


36 


- 


IOM 




2+ 


- 


5 M 


2-4 


- 


II M 




12 


- 


6 M 


12 


- 


12 D 









7M 







I 1) 




43 


- 


7 M 


48 


- 


I D 




36 


- 


8 M 


36 


- 


2 D 




14 


- 


9 M 


2-4 




3 D 




12 


- 


IOM 


r2 


- 


4 O 



This Tide-Table is not mathematically cor- 
reel, but will be found fufficiently fo for thofe 
who confult it only for the purpofes of bathing. 



USEFUL 



90 A DESCRIPTION OT 

USEFUL HINTS. 

The infinite number of miflakes which 
frequently happen during the fummer, in 
regard to letters, being fent to wrong people, 
or laying at .the Poft-office many days, and, 
at laft, returned to the dead letter-office, in 
JLondon, there to be opened, &c. &c. has 
been long complained of as a great evil 
attending Watering Places ; the only way 
to prevent thefe unpleafant circumftances, is 
for every perfon, foon as they are fettled 
in lodgings, to leave their chriftian and fur- 
name, and place of abode, at the Poft-office; 
and likewife, -when they leave Brighton, 
where they wifh their letters or parcels to 
^ be fent after them. It frequently happens 
that many perfons of the fame furname 
come down to Brighton about the fame 
time, and, therefore, too much care cannot 
be taken to prevent letters, and parcels of 
.confequence, falling into wrong hands ; and 
this can only be done, by early leaving a 
coneft addrefs at the Poft-office. 

Thofe 



BRIGHTHELMSTON, dfc. Dl 

Thofe ladies and gentlemen who frequent 
the libraries, to prevent being difappointed 
of books, in the hurry of the feafon, mould 
write out a lift of fifteen or twenty numbers 
from the catalogue, by which means they 
would be fure of having fome amufing 
book or other, if the particular one wifhed 
for fhould be out. 

Pleafure-boats, and careful feamen, may 
be had at Wallis's, the Rifmg Sun, in Eaft- 
ftreet ; but an hour or two's notice fhould 
be given, if poffible, to get lines, hooks, &cc* 
&c. for thofe who may chufe to amufe 
themfelves with fiihing, during the ex- 
curfion. 

If Hot Baths are wanted out of the ufual 
hours, notice mould be fent, fome time pre- 
vious, to the Bath, where conftant attendance 
is given. 

The Editor prefumes thefe few hints will 

!be found ufeful by thofe who may honour 

3 the 



92 A DESCRIPTION, &C m 

the place with their company ; and if his 
firft affay to amufe the Public fhould be fo 
fortunate as to fucceed, he will take particular 
care, in any future edition, to correct thofe 
errors which, through want of experience, 
or hurry of bufmefs, may have efcaped his 
notice, in this New Guide to Brighthelmfton, 



THE END. 



POST-OFFICE, 

AND 

CIRCULATING LIBRARY. 



F. G. Fisher refpedtiully begs leave to 
inform the nobility and gentry, frequenting 
Brighthelmfcon, he keeps conftantly on fale 
an elegant afTortment of Jewellery, Stationary, 
Tunbridge Ware, Perfumery, Gloves, Para- 
fols, uieful and entertaining Books, Patent 
Medicines, &c. &c. &e. with the largeft 
collection in Brighton of Grand and Small 
Piano Fortes for hire, by the beft makers, 
and great variety of new Mufic ; and all who 
honor him with their commands may depend 
en having articles, of the beft quality, on. the 
moft reaibnable terms, and every endeavour, 
in his power exerted, to merit a continuance 
of their kind patronage. 



CONTENTS. 



Academies. 25 

Arundel 65> 

Banks . y *. 21: 

Barracks 48 

Baths (hot and cold) 22 

Batoing 23 

Boarding-Schools . . . . . . . . .. , . . . 26 

Bramber 53 

Caflle-Tavern 13 

Chalybeate-Water . $6 

Chapel Royal ............... 27 

Circulating. Libraries 19 

Coaches 82 , 

Concluding Remarks .71 

Cricketing-Ground . ... . . ,.. 32 

Devil's Dyke ................ 44, 

Eaft Bourn 59 ; 

Elmore's Stables. 2b 

Fifhery 29 

General Defcription ............. 3. 

Hamilton-Houfe , 12 

Highdown-Hill 67 

Hiilorical Event 32 

Hove . . , , ..........!! 62 

Inns. 






CONTENTS, 



Inns . . ,17 

Lewes . . 48 

Marine Pavilion ] J 

Market-Place 2S 

Marlborough-Houfe . 11 

Name 2 

Newhaven 56 

New Shoreham 61 

Old Ship-Tavern L5 

Pcacquets ...... - S7 

Port 81 

Pott-Office ................. 20 

Prefton . .54 

Promenade-Grove ■-...:-. 17 

Public Worfhip (Places of) • ... 23 

Race-Ground 42 

Rides . . , 42 

Roads 75 

Roltir.gdean 55 

Seafbrd . 57 

Situation 1 

Signal-Houfe 45 

Stage-Carts 86 

Stanmer 47 

Stevne 8 

Steyning 64 

Theatre 24 

Tide-Table 8.9 

Ufeful Hints 90 

"Waggons 84 

Worthing G3 

T. Burton, Printer, V 
tittle Queen-ftrest. J 



Library of Congress 



